Means for securing knives and tools in their scabbards



Aug. 31, 1954 c. z. su'rToN MEANS FOR SECURING KNIVES AND TOOLS IN THEIR SCABBARDS Filed April 4, 1949 H m r E m T 1 xm a ,n ww. Y n l/ ....m. n* lllllvll|||l1|.1v. l l l l l l l l l I I l Ilu/ a R M Z H m Y L. e 0

Patented Aug. 31, 1954 MEANS Foa SECURING KNIVES AND rrooLs y 1N THEIR scABBARDs Charles Zook Sutton, Piedmont, Calif.

Application April 4, 1949,Seria1 No. 85,384

This invention relates to a method and means by which implements such `as knives and tools are safely retained in their scabbards, `and more particularly to a method by which a hunting knife may` bessecured in its scabbard in such a manner that involuntary removal by accident or otherwise is prevented. s

The method and means disclosed herein also assures such` elasticity in holding a hunting knife or other tool in its supporting scabbard that the danger of injury to the wearer is eliminated.

Commonly, `a hunting knife or other `tool held in a scabbard is retained inthe latter` by means of `a strap riveted to the scabbard. The tWo ends of such a strap, `adapted to be closed around the knife handleprotruding above the scabbard, are frequently equipped with a snap such as a glove fastener. There are several dangers inherent in a supporting arrangement of this typewhch are frequent causes of serious accidents. `danger is that the knife or other tool may slip through the securing strap, and `another is that the strap may becomeunfastened. In` either case injury to the wearer orloss of the instrument may result. Furthermore, should such a safety strap be adjusted to hold the instrument tightly enoughto reduce these hazards; the instrument would be so rigidly held within the scabbard that the lled scabbard may itself cause injury, or restrict free movement, especially when a wearer such as a hunter, is exposed to the possibilities I of taking fallswhile climbing or moving over dangerous ground.

This invention makes provision for an elastic retaining cap adapted to t closely over the top of the handle of a knife, screw driver, or other `tool cafrrie'din the scabbard or other protective One such enclosure, accommodating itself to varying `becomes detached. These dangers are minimized r bythe present invention, since` the conventional retaining strap is eliminated, and a more secure way of fastening the knife or tool to its scabbard is introduced. Moreover, by the use of an elastic method of attachment, freedom of movement is 2 claims. (c1. 224-2) `2 l given to the scabbard which holds the knife or tool, which movement is largely independent from l that of the securing means. Thus, the wearer will be secure in the knowledge that the scabbard will give wayeven if he should accidentally fall upon it, rather than` being subjected Yto the danger of accidentally running the instrument into his side.

It is an important object of this invention therefor to provide a method and means of fastening a knife or other sharp-edged instrument or a tool securely to its scabbard.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a safe and reliable method and means of fastening a sharp edged tool to a protective holder or to any other object onwhich it may be carried while attached tothe belt` of the wearer, for example.

It is another object of this invention to produce a method and means by which sufficient movability is provided in a `scabbard holding a knife or other tool so that safety is assured to the wearer while carrying such an instrument on his side.

It is also an object to provide amethod of fastening hunting knives, screw drivers, and the likein scabbards or other objects in which they may be carried. s

Further objects are to provide a. construction of maximum simplicity, economy and ease of assembly and disassembly, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will fully appear and as are inherently possessed by the device and invention described herein.

Invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment and one variant thereof, it is to be understood that the Same is illustrative 0f the invention and that the invention is capable of modification and change and comprehends other details of construction without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing the invention used in conjunction with a conventional hunting knife.

Figure 2 is a side eleva-tional View of illustrated in Figure `1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the knife `of Figure 2 showing the elastic retaining cap releasedfrom engagement therewith. i

Figure 4 is a sectional view `taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 1.\

the device Figure is a front elevational view of the scabbard of Figure 1 modified to receive and retain a screw driver.

In lthe drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views, there is shown a hunting knife II resting in its scabbard I2. Aiiixed to the belt or attaching loop I5'l of the scabbard I2 is an elastic cap Il! which is adapted to be pulled over the top or upper end portion I9 of the knife handle I4. The elongated backing portion of the cap is preferably secured to the area of the scabbard I2 which extends immediately above the hilt I8- of the knife I I. Attachment of the portion 20 to the flexible loop I5 at the upper end of the support panel I5 of the scabbard I2 may be accomplished by any convenient conventional means, such as the rivets I6 or lacing the portion 25) thereto with a leather thong. Preferably, the area of the backing portion 20 which is adjacent to the point or points of attachment to the flexible Vloop I is reinforced V`with suitable webbing, such as cloth or wire. A flexible tongue I'I is preferably inte- -grally formed with the elastic cap Iii, and is Iadapted to facilitate release of the cap from engagement with the handle I4 in the manner hereinafter to be more fully described. f

In order to secure the knife II or any other tool within the scabbard I2, the knifeor other instrument is vinserted within the'scabbard as illustrated in Figures l and'2, or through the strap 22 of the unsheathed tool supporting panel 23 illustrated in Figure 5. Then, the tongue i? of the 'cap I0 is grasped with thc thumb and forenger so esto pull the resilient cap I0 over the end of the handle of the instrument so that the interior arcuate groove Iila 'above the resilient lip I 0b of the cap is constricted around the upper portion lHl of the handle, as illustrated in Figure 2. In this manner a knife or other sharp edged instrument may be safely retained within lits scabbard, and cannot be involuntarily or inadvertently removed. lThe elasticity of the backing portion 20 constantly urges the instrument to its proper place. Likewise the elastic nature of `the cap conforms it to the shape of the top portion I9 of the handle. When it is desired to remove the knife or tool from the scabbard, the cap I9 is lifted manually by grasping the tab II and giving a quick pull upwardly. The instrument may be removed from the scabbard or other support as soon as .the elastic cap IIJ has been pulled or peeled back out of engagement with the handle I4 `as illustrated inFigure 3. Once the cap has released the top of the handle of the knife or other instrument, it is immediately available for use.

From this description it will be apparent that this invention produces a method of securely and `quickly fastening a knife or tool carried in a scabbard or other protective holder. Where a scabbard as such is not required a method is also provided for securely and quickly fastening a tool onto a protective support. It is also apparent that a method has been provided for quickly and simply removing a knife or tool from its scabbard. Furthermore, this invention provides a` means of carrying a tool at one side of the wearer in such a manner that freedom of movement is assured, and danger of injury through rigidity or inflexibility of attachment of the instrument to its scabbard is eliminated.

Any knife or tool which is carried in a protective holder may readily be modied to embody the present invention by providing an elastic cap 4 of the type described herein, and by connecting the said resilient cap to the scabbard or other support.

Iclaim: 1. A device for holding an instrument such as a knife having a blade and a handle aixed to and extending longitudinally from one end of said blade, said device comprising a base having a iiexible loop at the upper portion and a holder xed to the lower portion thereof, said holder having an open end for receiving said blade, said holder also having stop means for contact with said instrument when inserted through the open end of the holder to retain the instrument in a predetermined longitudinal position; said device also comprising a resilient cap fixedly mounted on said loop in longitudinal alignment with said holder and spaced from the open end thereof in the direction of withdrawal of said blade, said cap being closed at the end further from said holder 4and Aopen at the nearer end; said cap also being spa-ced from the open end of the holder a distance in relation tothe length of the handle of said instrument such that said cap can be flexed to permit insertion of said `blade in the hol-der and such that, upon release, said cap will embrace the upper end of said handle and will exert a longitudinal force thereon to hold the instrument against such stop means with a positive force.

2. A device for holding an instrument such as a knife having a blade and a handle afxed to and extending longitudinally from one end of said blade, said device comprising a base having a flexible loop :at itsupper portion and a holder `fixed to the lower portion thereof, said holder having an open end for receiving said blade, said holder also having stop means for contact with said instrument when inserted through the open end of the holder to retain the instrument in a predetermined longitudinal position; said device also comprising a resilient cap ixedly mounted on said loop in longitudinal alignment with said holder and spaced from the open end thereof in the direction of withdrawal of said blade, said cap being closed at the end further from said holder and open at the nearer end; said cap also being spaced from the open end of the holder a distance in relation to the length of the handle of said instrument such that said cap can be flexed to permit insertion of said blade in the holder and such that, upon release, said cap will embrace the upper end of said handle and will exert a longitudinal force thereon to hold the instrument against such stop means with a positive force; said cap also being formed with a depending lip on the side of the cap removed from said base, said lip being of resilient material integral with the cap` 

